Socratic Seminar Reflection: Grapes of Wrath

             Due to the nature of our Socratic Seminar, it influenced my thinking in many new ways. The seminar quickly shifted away from the text and into a political argument, which allowed for me to view the text from a political angle for the first time. A large portion of this discussed the point of view of the residents of California, which I hadn't deeply considered.

            The statement I agreed with the most was that it’s unfair to demonize the most desperate group in a situation (it might have been me who initially brought this up, I can’t remember). The statement I agreed with the least was that desperate workers are to blame for lowering the wage to work. I disagree because I believe it should be the employers at fault for lowering wages whenever possible. There wasn’t anything I felt needed to be added, as I once again did my fair share of speaking.

            Our discussion on the politics of the situation was wonderful. It really showed intelligence and analytical thinking from the students. Being an honors class, it was a great demonstration of what we are capable of.

            Two improvements I thought could be made involve me and the group as a whole. A personal improvement would be to talk less. This is a problem I’ve worked on my whole life. Everyone deserves equal opportunity to talk. As a group, we could have stayed on track and discussed the book more, because that is what the seminar was actually about. However, I loved the discussion we had and I’m glad that we didn’t return to level one and two questions because they would cut into the time we had.

Chapters 23-27: Family Discussion Reflection

RESEARCH

Summary

I found an article discussing recent strikes by fast food employees. The workers, who mostly make the national minimum wage of $7.25 an hour, are threatening to strike until they are paid $15 an hour. The strikes have forced operations in Milwaukee, Detroit, and St. Louis to close temporarily.
Evaluation
In Chapter 26 of The Grapes of Wrath, Steinbeck discusses labor strikes due to the owner of the peach orchards cutting pay in half. These strikes are similar to the contemporary fast food strikes because both are employees striking for more pay.
MLA Citation
Strauss, Gary. "Fast-food Workers Strike for Higher Pay." USA Today. Gannett, 30 Aug. 2013. Web. 12 Jan. 2014.

PHILOSOPHICAL QUESTIONING

1. Are strikes effective ways to get the attention of employees?

2. When are strikes justifiable?

3. When are they not?

REFLECTION

1. The most memorable moment of my discussion with my father was when he expressed just how in favor he is of labor strikes. He noted how rare it is for large corporations to pay their low-level employees living wages, and said that labor strikes are almost always necessary. 

2. It was especially satisfying to hear that my dad is such a strong believer in drastic action, as I've always considered drastic political action as a possibility for my future.

3. I wish my questions addressed a wider range of topics. Despite being on track with what I wanted to discuss, there was only one track.

3. 

Socratic Seminar Reflection: PIA #2*

            Although I did very well on this test, there were a few aspects of it, and specific questions on it, that I didn’t fully understand. Many of my correct answers were educated guesses, some were purely based on gut feeling. A select few of my answers were wrong entirely.

            The seminar helped me in many ways. Being the discussion leader, I felt motivated to defend my answer choice on almost every question. Hearing the argument of others either forced me to back up my answer with evidence (something I wish to improve on in the midst of taking tests), or swayed me to a different answer choice. For example, I didn’t know that the word “spectre” literally means ghost. When discussing a question asking for another word for ghost, I was informed that the two were synonymous, and therefore changed my answer. Some people described choosing an answer based on gut feeling, and that is the strategy I agree with the least. I’d have to really not understand the question or the passage to base an answer strictly on gut feeling. There wasn’t anything I felt needed to be said, as I did the majority of the talking.

            While the seminar was mostly beneficiary, there were a few aspects that could be improved for the next one. On the plus side, many uncertainties were clarified for everybody, and it was a strong discussion of test taking skills.

            However, there were a few negative qualities. For example, I spoke too much. Although it was my job to lead the discussion, it was not my job to dictate. While I stated my opinion on every single answer choice, there were some that hardly ever spoke. However, the seminar was an overall success.

*I wrote this almost entirely before I found the rubric. While some of the necessary information is out of order, it is all present.

Chapters 18-22: Family Discussion Reflection

RESEARCH

Summary

I found an article about political prisoners taken by Adolf Hitler during the second world war. It discussed how communists, democrats, Jehovah's Witnesses, and homosexuals were persecuted simply for challenging Hitler's political, social, and spiritual beliefs.

Evaluation

In chapter 20 of The Grapes of Wrath, Tom Joad questions why workers don't protest against unjust landowners, and he is told that those men are arrested and put on a "blacklist", which ensures that they would have no chance of finding work in California. This reminded me of a pattern of political oppression in which a absolute monarch persecutes political opponents in order to suppress a revolt, which is exactly what Hitler did during World War II. On a lesser scale, landowner had rebels blacklisted to keep workers in check.  

MLA Citation

"POLITICAL PRISONERS: Nazi Persecution of Political Opponents." Holocaust Encyclopedia. United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, 10 June 2013. Web. 19 Dec. 2013.

PHILOSOPHICAL QUESTIONING

1. What causes humans to disregard moral obligations?

2. When are revolutions necessary?

3. Despite the risk of imprisonment or blacklisting, why do many people still revolt against oppression?

REFLECTION

1. The most memorable moment of my discussion with my mother was when we discussed my first question, and came to the same conclusion: greed. It seems to be human nature to do anything for money when presented with the opportunity. 

2. An especially satisfying moment of our discussion was when discussing my third question. We discussed how people still manage to revolt against oppression because they have nothing to lose. When oppression is at its worst, being persecuted or blacklisted isn't even a threat because people can't imagine anything worse, and therefore revolt despite the risk. Despite this being a depressing topic, it gives me hope for the worst of situations. 

3. I was very satisfied in my questions this week because they related to both The Grapes of Wrath and the article. They also led the discussion in the desired direction. 

3.

Chapters 10-17: Family Discussion Reflection

RESEARCH

Summary

I found an article about an amnesty passed by President Obama allowing for young illegal immigrants to be legalized in the United States, allowing them to legally work and attend American schools. However, the author was concerned that this new large wave of citizens would make it tougher for preexisting US citizens to find jobs and get into universities.
Evaluation

This connects to The Grapes of Wrath because this job competition is very similar to when the wave of Mid-Westerners arrived in California, all looking for a limited number of jobs (described to Pa Joad by the man at the camp in chapter 16).

MLA Citation

Constable, Pamela. "Young Illegal Immigrants' Amnesty Could Tighten Competition for Jobs, College." Washingtonpost.com. Washington Post, 15 June 2012. Web. 12 Dec. 2013.

         PHILOSOPHICAL QUESTIONING

            1. What does already living in a certain area entitle you to?

            2. Do desperate people deserve to compete for outside jobs?

            3. What factors determine who gets the job in times of competition?

      REFLECTION

            1. The most memorable part of my discussion with my father was when he described how in the Dust Bowl, there was a third party involved. There wasn't just the Dust Bowl refugees and the Californians competing over Californian jobs, there was also the employers who just want the cheapest labor possible, which tends to lean towards the most desperate party.

            2. Our discussion about the opportunities for both the immigrants and the Dust Bowl escapees was especially satisfying. We discussed how despite increasing competition for others who also deserve jobs, desperate groups (especially those who didn't cause their own misfortune) deserve equal opportunities. 

            3. Although I prefer my current question's to last week's questions, I would like to do a better job of understanding the type of discussion I want to have before the fact. Using this information, I will write my questions to guide to conversation in the right direction.

Chapters 1-9: Family Discussion Reflection

RESEARCH

Summary

I found a study about the difficulties of finding a job after being released from prison. The study found that it was difficult due to the loss of work skills and the unwillingness of employers to hire the formerly incarcerated. Within eight months of being released from prison, only 45% of former prison inmates were currently employed. On average, only 30% of post-release income was from legal employment, while 66% came from family and friends.

Evaluation

This text connects to the assigned reading because when the reader is first introduced to Tom Joad, he is fresh out of prison. He was planning on working for his parents, which is the primary way ex-convicts make money according to the study I researched. 

MLA Citation

Debus, Sara, Christy Visher, and Jennifer Yahner. "Employment after Prison: A Longitudinal Study of Releases in Three States." Urban Institute. Justice Policy Center, Oct. 2008. Web. 4 Dec. 2013.

PHILOSOPHICAL QUESTIONING

1. When and when aren't second chances appropriate?

2. What roles do friends and family play in initiating second chances?

3. What factors affect one's ability to start over?

REFLECTION

1. The most memorable moment of my discussion with a family member (my mom) was when we were discussing the third question I had prepared. We began talking about how ex-convicts surrounded by poverty are trapped because of how difficult it is to get a job. When a former inmate can't rely on a job or family for income, options are thin and times are desperate, much like Tom Joad in the first nine chapters of The Grapes of Wrath.

2. My mother's forgiving viewpoints on second chances were very satisfying (especially being her son). We discussed how everyone only has one life, and there are very few crimes in which the criminal doesn't deserve another try. If that person can change for the better, new opportunities should be possible.

3. I believe my questions might have been slightly too general. I could have made them more directly relate to both my research and the novel. I think the questions mostly leaned towards my research, and not so much The Grapes of Wrath, especially since my research basically only connected to a few of the nine chapters.